Teaching German

Culture

'Tis the season for the ugly Christmas sweater

From the US to the UK and even Germany — it's time again to dig out and actually wear that tacky Christmas sweater. Yes, the gaudy one with Santa, elves and real jingle bells. Here are some of our favorites.

A royal approach

Hohoho! In 2016, Madame Tussauds in London dressed the royal family in questionable but festive sweaters in honor of the UK's "Save the Children" Christmas Jumper Day campaign on December 16, which urges people to wear tacky Christmas woollens — and donate to the charity. At least it was for a good cause.

Sweating in sweaters

It looks like these runners in the 2016 Amsterdam Ugly Sweater Run rummaged around for the loudest knit sweaters they could find to celebrate the season in the snow. They are clearly having a grand time. A portion of the proceeds went to charities.

Off the rack

The sweaters are surprisingly popular. In the US, even high-end shops offer rack after rack of garish, holiday-themed sweaters. US actor Bill Cosby was a veritable ugly Christmas sweater icon, as his character in the 1980s sitcom "The Cosby Show" often wore loudly patterned sweaters.

Cross-eyed reindeer

Snowmen, Santas, elves, reindeer, lots of red and green, felt and pompoms... the list of what makes an tacky Christmas sweater is endless, but the more embarrassing and obnoxious, the better.

Celebrity designs

Sporting an ugly Christmas sweater has even become somewhat of a tradition in the US, with sweater-themed parties, runs for charities and even ugly Christmas sweater songs about the "eyesores." The one above was designed by no other than US actress Whoopi Goldberg.

Remember him?

In this scene from the 2001 romantic comedy "Bridget Jones' Diary," actor Colin Firth in his role as lovable Mark Darcy wears a memorable sweater to a holiday party, a gift from his mother. A turn-off, or simply adorable?

Why should people have all the fun?

Deck out the whole family and the pets! Apparently, the ugly Christmas sweater tradition isn't limited to humans, but can also be extended to your favorite pooch or feline.

A royal approach

Hohoho! In 2016, Madame Tussauds in London dressed the royal family in questionable but festive sweaters in honor of the UK's "Save the Children" Christmas Jumper Day campaign on December 16, which urges people to wear tacky Christmas woollens — and donate to the charity. At least it was for a good cause.

Sweating in sweaters

It looks like these runners in the 2016 Amsterdam Ugly Sweater Run rummaged around for the loudest knit sweaters they could find to celebrate the season in the snow. They are clearly having a grand time. A portion of the proceeds went to charities.

Off the rack

The sweaters are surprisingly popular. In the US, even high-end shops offer rack after rack of garish, holiday-themed sweaters. US actor Bill Cosby was a veritable ugly Christmas sweater icon, as his character in the 1980s sitcom "The Cosby Show" often wore loudly patterned sweaters.

Cross-eyed reindeer

Snowmen, Santas, elves, reindeer, lots of red and green, felt and pompoms... the list of what makes an tacky Christmas sweater is endless, but the more embarrassing and obnoxious, the better.

Celebrity designs

Sporting an ugly Christmas sweater has even become somewhat of a tradition in the US, with sweater-themed parties, runs for charities and even ugly Christmas sweater songs about the "eyesores." The one above was designed by no other than US actress Whoopi Goldberg.

Remember him?

In this scene from the 2001 romantic comedy "Bridget Jones' Diary," actor Colin Firth in his role as lovable Mark Darcy wears a memorable sweater to a holiday party, a gift from his mother. A turn-off, or simply adorable?

Why should people have all the fun?

Deck out the whole family and the pets! Apparently, the ugly Christmas sweater tradition isn't limited to humans, but can also be extended to your favorite pooch or feline.